Students hold annual ‘CarFit’ event to test safety
On Monday morning the students from the Idaho State University department of occupational therapy held their sixth annual “CarFit” event to inspect cars and make sure they are safe enough for drivers before hitting the road.
Students will use a 12-point checklist for any of the cars throughout the community who come through, inspecting everything from: the distance drivers should be sitting away from the steering wheel, tire pressure, whether or not the car’s features are working properly, the steering wheel position, seat belt use, and if drivers are comfortable enough while driving.
Clinical assistant professor Ted Peterson said this event aims to improve safety among the growing senior driving population.
He said by the year 2030, one out of every four drivers will be over the age of 65, and those individuals are more susceptible to succumbing from car accident-related injuries than anyone else.
“For society as a whole, it’s important to pay attention to the issue of senior drivers and (vehicle) safety,” Peterson said. “This is one small way to approach that issue.”
CarFit is an educational program created by the American Society on Aging with collaborative efforts with AAA.
Anyone who would like more information to see whether or not your car is fit to drive safely, you can visit the CarFit website at: www.car-fit.org.
You can watch more on this story tonight at 5:30 and six o’clock on KIDK and Local News 8.
